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So, it’s time to come clean about something potentially very controversial. But I’m tired of keeping quiet about this fact. When you’re as immersed in internet discussion regarding popular or cult TV series’ as I am (I know, I’m a geek) you tend to notice certain staples that come up time and time again in discussion. I.e. Breaking Bad is incredible (true), Two and a Half Men is crap (true) and Community is essentially above reproach. It’s every geek’s favourite sitcom and it’s not hard to see why. Community is undeniably clever and original and occasionally shows flashes of brilliance. But here’s the thing; it’s not that good. Fans like to ignore the dud episodes, the many attempts at experimentation that just fall flat. Now maybe this is the price the show has to pay for its innovation, but the fact remains, you cannot rant about how perfect and amazing a show is when it is as hit and miss as Community. Okay, let’s break this down. The paintball episode; a hilarious and surprising analysis and loving parody of action movies that makes perfect sense within the context of the show. It advances understandings of the characters, is very funny, and pretty damn cool. Likewise the Dungeons and Dragons themed episode, which coupled a touching plot about a potentially suicidal student with an awesome pastiche on fantasy films. My housemate tells me that it’s an inaccurate depiction of the game, but whatever. The episode is entertaining regardless. But then, some episodes are just awful. Like, really, really bad. For example, the season three episode where Annie and Abed go into the dreamatorium and then… something happens which I guess is meant to be a cool, meta comment on the characters and… okay, COME ON, that episode was just ABYSMALLY bad. I have never been more gobsmacked by such a level of awfulness in an otherwise good show. Or what about the episode where Britta dates a guy called Subway, which is funny because his name is Subway. Right. Genius, eh? Or the episode which seemed like a clever space film rip-off at first, and ends up being a weird mockery of KFC… somehow. I’m sorry, but just being outright odd is not an adequate substitute for cleverness. It just seems like the fanboys around the world who bow down at the shrine of Dan Harmon’s boundless greatness are happy to accept any and all bad flights of fancy as part of the shows ‘quirkiness’. Ignoring the fact that they’re just not funny. And what about the REALLY beloved episodes that are not as good as everything thinks? Like the zombie episode. Every time Community has taken on a genre, for all its contrivances, it makes sense within the universe and context of the show, which, by the way, is half the genius. The paintball episode would not be nearly as funny if they were firing real guns. Why, then, did all the characters become REAL zombies? Why was that a good idea? It made all of no sense and yet was just taken in stride by the characters. Obviously comedy shows don’t need to adhere to the same principles of believability as dramas, but there is a limit. Also, the critically adored ‘timelines’ episode where six different potential timelines are shown based on which characters went to get pizza. Great idea in theory, but the scriptwriting was just abysmal. In what way was Britta’s lame pizza dance funny? And why did we have to see the full lead in of Abed explaining the timelines theory before seeing each one? Sheer filler. And the Claymation episode was shit. It was corny, trite and not nearly funny enough to justify this. But there is a deeper inherent problem with the show, and that is the characters. Not individually; they’re overall pretty well developed. No, the problem is the core concept of the ‘group’. There is just not that much chemistry between the characters and, as if the writers are aware of this, they have shoehorned in endless references to how ‘close’ the group are, and how important it is that they stay together. Compare this to say, How I Met Your Mother or Scrubs, where the core cast naturally developed a strong chemistry over time, rather than stating it as a fact halfway through the first season and assuming that was the same as a well-earned sense of camaraderie. These things take time, otherwise they just feel forced. Look, at the end of the day Community is a really good show, and it is more genuinely original than pretty much anything else on TV. But that does not change the fact that it IS overrated. The thing is, I would rather watch old episodes of How I Met Your Mother, a show not nearly as critically adored, purely because I actually feel like the characters enjoy each other’s company. Or Scrubs, where I know that, aside from the later seasons, I can put on any episode and enjoy it, or at least, not feel like cringing. I find myself having to be way, way more selective with Community. Which is something that should not be ignored. After all, consistency is as important as originality, if not more so. That’s all.

While you make one or two good points, your argument is fundamentally flawed, mainly in your comparison of Community with How I met Your Mother. Aside from being American sitcoms that have (in the case of HIMYM, occasional) friendship themes, they have nothing in common. There are so many (worrying) problems with the themes and characterisation in HIMYM, and it has at least 5 times as many dud episodes as Community does.

Community is in no way above reproach, no show is, but your criticisms all stem from the fact that you don't really "get" the characters or their relationships. I can accept that Community doesn't really do it for you, just like HIMYM doesn't really do it for me. But to say that this makes it a bad show is completely out of line, and it comes across as you looking for ways to rant about a show you don't really like very much.
Your point about the Zombie episode makes sense, and is a genuine criticism. Likewise,I would accept it if I watched the first season again and the friendships in the group did seem forced, but all your other arguments are matters of taste and what you personally value as entertaining.
HIMYM obsessively deals with the characters (messed up) relationships, and the fallout of these (messed up) relationships ending. Community deals with the different ways in which a group of (messed up) people deal with themselves and tracks their attempts to become better people with better lives.

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Gab

1/20/2013 11:41:03 am

The flaws inherent in Community have nothing to do with how it compares to How I Met Your Mother. More than anything, I'm using that show as an example of a series that has a convincing and natural bond between the characters at the core of it. You have to concede that Community REALLY labours the point regarding the co-dependance of the group. Like, painfully so. It never rings true and as much as the idea is nice, they do seem to rely heavily on plentiful Winger speeches and corny platitudes to get the point across.

And I didn't even begin to touch on some of the downright stupid overarching plots of season 3. Like, what the hell was up with the whole air-conditioning repair thing? Or the darkest timeline? It was just not very good. At all. Maybe if these plots served a higher comedic purpose or said something meaningful about the characters they could be excused, but they just don't. And while the show makes fun of the air conditioning thing, that doesn't change the fact that it's a poorly conceived plot dragged out waayyy to long. Even as a one episode gimmick, it wouldn't have worked, let alone as an overarching subplot.

Look, my argument was never that Community is a bad show, because it's not. But it has enormous consistency issues and it's probably a good thing for the show that Dan Harmon and his stupid flights of fancy have been booted out of the show. Seriously, he's like the Steven Moffat of American sitcoms. Talented and occasionally inspired but badly susceptible to a whole host of really obvious bouts of stupidity. The more and more control he had (i.e. season 3) the worse the show got. In season one, as a just starting out sitcom that had to be more mainstream to sell itself, it worked. It's that same irony as in the first Star Wars film; Lucas had less freedom to do what he wanted, and consequently the film was spared the idiocy that plagued the prequel films.

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hmm yes hmm

1/20/2013 11:51:14 am

Like I said, you have some valid criticisms, but I think you're dissing a show that isn't bad enough to warrant such disdain. It has consistently good morals and themes, and deals with the issues the characters face in a believable and sensitive way. And I honestly don't get that you think the friendships are forced. The characters have some of the most enviable and realistic relationships that just aren't present in HIMYM.

Seriously, it's as if Robin and Lily are only allowed to be part of the friendship group because they act like "bros." HIMYM is basically about guys having bad relationships and consistently making bad, insensitive decisions (and not learning from them.)

Season 3 of Community had some of my favourite episodes of the show, and I think they took the character development in the right direction. I think the comparisons to Moffat and Lucas were unfair.

I just think you're being unfair to what is one of few all round decent shows.

Gab

1/20/2013 11:56:56 am

You CANNOT seriously tell me with a presumably straight face that you thought the air conditioning stuff in season 3 was good. Or the darkest timeline. And the thing is, every tv show warrants criticism. Like, for example, the many, many flaws in How I Met Your Mother or Scrubs. What annoys me is the pedestal people put Community on, acting like everything Dan Harmon touches turns to gold. Which it doesn't. People refuse to admit that the show has problems and is just not THAT good.